Ahh, Ohio, the old Buckeye state. The great state is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the infamous Wright Brothers, and some darn good corn! If you’re moving to town, there’s a lot to do to get settled in. Once you’ve unpacked, met your new neighbors, and tried the corn, it’s probably time to start thinking about logistics.
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One big one is getting your vehicles properly titled, and on the road with a brand new Ohio state license plate! Ohio is a big state, so the details can be tedious but worry not! You landed in the right place! Here’s a straightforward guide to transferring the title and registration to your car, truck, RV, or motorcycle in Ohio after a move.
Title transfer in Ohio
The first thing you need to know is what exactly you’re transferring and why. Your vehicle title, that coveted piece of paper that you got when you bought your car, is your proof of ownership. The title is almost always required when registering your vehicle. And speaking of the registration, that’s your “permission” to use the car on public roadways. The registration includes the license plate, tag (or decal), and registration card. Transactionally, these two documents will be transferred together and in the case of a move to Ohio, brand new Ohio state title and registration will be issued.
In Ohio, titles and registrations are processed at two different offices
What do you need to get your OH paperwork right!
Let’s get down to brass tacks. You need a clear idea of exactly what you need to facilitate this transfer! Here you go!
First up, your title. You can’t transfer it if you don’t have it! Unless you’re changing ownership on the title (like, you want to give the car to your wife or sell it to your niece) you can leave it blank. BMV will take your out-of-state title and issue one from Ohio State.
SEE ALSO: NEW TO OHIO? THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION
In 2020, Ohio ranked among the top five moving destinations for the first time in five years, according to U-Haul data
If you’ve lost your car title during the move, you need to apply for a duplicate title first. Depending on what state your car was titled in, you might be able to use an online service like eTags to help! The only other reason you may not be in possession of your title is because of a lien.
If the bank holds your title, you must send them a transfer request form. They will send your title to Ohio BMV. You just need to provide a copy of your loan agreement to a local BMV office to get the ball rolling on the paperwork. If your lien has been satisfied, but it’s still recorded on your title, couple the title with the lien release from the bank and you’re good to go!
Grab your driver’s license or state ID card. By the way, you’ve got 30 days to change your driver’s license. If you’ve got all of the applicable paperwork, this is a good time to take care of that as well. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, as they say! Along with your valid ID, you need current Ohio state vehicle insurance. Remember, rule of thumb: Insurance is required to register your car. Not the other way around.
The last major requirement is a VIN inspection. You can easily take care of this at any Ohio deputy registrar license agency. The cost is $6.50 to have it completed. Have a look online to find out where it’s located in your county. Another option is visiting an Ohio licensed dealership, but it’s recommended to call ahead to schedule service and find out the cost as they vary.
There are over 13,000,000 registered vehicles in Ohio
Don’t forget your Ohio registration
Once you have these documents gathered, you’ll head to a local BMV office to complete the transfer. When you get there, you must fill out the Application for Certificate of Title or form BMV-3774. This form will need to be notarized, so make sure you sign in the presence of the notary and not beforehand. Your fees will be calculated by the state including any sales tax if it’s applicable. The fees for title and registration vary, starting at $15 and up. The total will depend on certain factors like vehicle type, fuel type and other factors.
In Ohio, titles and registrations are processed at two different offices.Title work is completed at county clerk’s title office locations. Registration transactions are done at BMV offices. It’s highly recommended to do some research before you go to either office to see if an appointment is required or walk-ins are accepted.
The Ford F-150 was most-titled motor vehicle in Ohio in 2020
Title and register your out-of-state car online
There’s an easier way to avoid the hassle of making multiple trips to get your vehicle newly registered in Ohio. eTags is a convenient third party private company that titles and registers vehicles online. The unique requirement for notarized documents in Ohio is made simple with eTags’ certified virtual notaries.
Complete and notarize the necessary forms from the comfort of your home using a private, secure connection. The team at eTags will walk you through the entire process making titling and registering your vehicle in your new hometown in the Buckeye state, easy and painless.
15 comments
I bought a vehicle at the end of a lease and “gifted” the vehicle to my daughter. The vehicle was titled and registered in Nebraska. The leasing company sent the Nebraska title to me, in my name. I then sent that title and a bill of sale, to my daughter who lives in Ohio. Those documents never made it to Ohio.
I have applied for a duplicate title from the leasing company. My plan is to send that title to my daughter along with another bill of sale via registered mail.
Should I take the duplicate, Nebraska title, to the Nebraska DMV and get a fresh title from Nebraska in MY name and send that to my daughter with a bill of sale? OR, should I just send my child the duplicate title I get from the leasing company along with a bill of sale and have her get an Ohio title with those documents?
In short, is the duplicate Nebraska title, from the leasing company, in my name along with a bill of sale to my daughter adequate documentation for her to transfer the vehicle to her name in Ohio?
If I choose eTags, you will help me deal with lien.
We don’t have all the details of your situation but,: If you need a duplicate title and the lien is satisfied-with a lien release letter we can print you the clear title. With a title transfer if you need to transfer your vehicle to OH and you have a lien-Yes we’ll reach out to your lienholder to obtain the the title for the state and OH will print you a memorandum title until the lien is satisfied.
The only way we wouldn’t be able to “help” is if you have an active lien and you’re trying to transfer from private sale. Can’t do that, you have to go to the bank.
I recently sold my car that was bought in Illinois ( cash ). My had moved to Ohio after that. I went to DMV for new Ohio plates/ registration. Gave the new owner the title I received after registering in Ohio and other info as to where I purchased , etc. She took it to California and went to register and they wouldn’t, saying the title wasn’t the original. It’s the only one I had. I can’t remember if I had to give my Illinois title to them in Ohio when I registered. Lol. It’s on blue paper. She wants me to get the “ original “. I’m so confused . Please help. Thanks so much
You need to find the original title, to see if it’s an OH title or Illinois title. Check your vin number on this https://bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov/bmvonline/titles/titlesearch for OH and then on https://apps.ilsos.gov/regstatus/ for IL. If the title is an Ohio, eTags can help. You can order a duplicate title. If it’s an IL title, you’ll have to go to the DMV.
Is VIN inspection not required with tags?
For an out of state title transfer in Ohio, a VIN inspection is needed. You can get one at any Ohio deputy registrar license agency
I recently was living in Nevada and bought a car. Well I’m moving back to Ohio but the car still only has a 30 day tag from the dealership. Can I transfer my car to Ohio still or is there something I need to do first
You’ll need to transfer the out-of-state title to an OH title and register the car in OH too. Maker sure you also have OH insurance and get the VIN inspected since it’s coming out of state. You can process these transactions with eTags.
While on military active duty stationed in Ohio I purchased a vehicle and was exempt from paying sales tax because I titled and registered the vehicle in Montana. I’ve since left the military and recently became an Ohio resident so I’m transferring the title and registration to my vehicle in Ohio. Will I be charged sales tax on a vehicle I bought three years ago? Seems like I shouldn’t but just checking. Thanks!
Hi there! No. The vehicle isn’t being transferred due to a purchase. You’re only moving the vehicle to Ohio. You’ll simply pay the title transfer and registration fee. You can place an order with eTags and complete the transfer online here. I hope this helps!
I co-signed vehicle in NJ with my niece. Now my niece is moving to ohio and need to register and new license in ohio. Does she need to pay taxes again? Also the vehicle will registered on her name only in ohio. What’s the procedure? The vehicle is fully paid.
Hi there. She won’t need to pay sales tax as she’s only transferring the vehicle due to a move. As long as you have the title/lien release, Ohio insurance and a driver’s license, your niece can get started transferring the title now! Place an order on our site for title transfer today!
Hi I recently about 45 days ago I bought a truck in ohio.i live in kentucky.u want to get a title only made but I’m being told I need to get it inspected and insurance.i cannot do as .u only have a state id I can’t get a permit or do the eye test do to cataracts.and my surgery isn’t till the end of February.what can I do I can’t travel back to Ohio to get this done .help
Hey there, eTags can title out of state vehicles in the states we operate it. We work in Ohio, but it looks like you want to bring back the car in KY. So that’s where it has to be titled and registered, but eTags doesn’t operate in Kentucky.